Blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’, particularly selected for its flavor, high yield potential, shipping capacity of fruit, and spineless canes, is disclosed.

Latin name:

Botanical classification: Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed varietyof blackberry plant is ‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blackberry is the common name for a multitude of plant species bearingdark purple to black aggregate fruit in the genus Rubus of the familyRosaceae. Most blackberries are within the subgenus Rubus.

Native chiefly to the northern temperate regions, blackberries are nowbeing cultivated as a valuable fruit crop in many areas of the world,particularly in Europe, North America and Central America. Recognizedfor their high contents of antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamin C, andvitamin K. Blackberry fruit are typically consumed as fresh fruit,individually quick frozen fruit, or in prepared foods, such as purées,juices, jellies, jams, grocery items, baked goods, and snack foods.

Globally, Mexico is the leading producer of blackberries, with nearlythe entire crop being produced for export into the off-season freshmarkets in North America and Europe. The Mexican market is almostentirely from the cultivar ‘Tupi’ (also spelled as ‘Tupy’). In theUnited States, Oregon is the leading commercial blackberry producer,followed by the state of California.

Blackberries are perennial plants that typically bear biennial stems(known as “canes”) from a perennial root system. The two cane types areprimocanes, or first-year canes, which are usually vegetative, andfloricanes, which are the same canes and produce fruit in the nextgrowing season. In its first year, a new cane, the primocane, growsvigorously to its full length of three to six meters in a growth habitof erecting, arching, or trailing along the ground and bearing largecompound leaves with 3, 5, or 7 leaflets; it does not produce anyflowers. In its second year, the cane becomes a floricane and stopselongating, but the lateral buds break to produce flowering lateralsthat bear fruit.

Recently, primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have been developedthat are capable of flowering and fruiting on first-year canes.Primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have several advantages,including potential of two crops on the same plant in the same year,reduction in pruning costs by mowing of canes, avoidance of winterinjury, and production of fruit in an extended geographic area. However,prirnocane-fruiting blackberry varieties are also subject to a number ofchallenges, such as poor heat tolerance, lesser fruit quality, and lowyield.

Blackberry is an important and valuable commercial fruit crop.Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of blackberry plant. Inparticular, there is a need for improved varieties of blackberry plantthat are stable, high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to animproved variety of blackberry plant. In particular, the inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant (Rubus L.subgenus Rubus), which has been denominated as ‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’.

Blackberry plant variety ‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ was selected in Santa CruzCounty, Calif. in September of 2016 and originated from a controlledcross between the proprietary female parent blackberry plant ‘BW389 2Bulk’ (unpatented) and the male parent blackberry plant‘DrisBlackThirteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,681). The original seedlingof the new variety was first asexually propagated via root cuttings inSanta Cruz County, Calif. in October of 2016.

‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ was subsequently asexually propagated via rootcuttings, and underwent testing in Santa Cruz, Calif. from 2017 to 2021(four years). The present variety has been found to be stable andreproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations via rootcuttings and tissue culture.

‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ was selected for its flavor, high yield potential,shipping capacity of fruit, and spineless canes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plantsthat are two to five years old.

FIG. 1 illustrates leaves of variety ‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a section of a cane of variety ‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’.

FIG. 3 illustrates flowers of variety ‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ at variousstages of development.

FIG. 4 illustrates fruits of variety ‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ at variousstages of development.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’. The data that define these characteristics arebased on observations taken in Santa Cruz County, Calif. from 2017 to2021. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Colordesignations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptionsmay deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending uponvariation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions.‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The botanical description of‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ was taken from plants that were two to five yearsold. The indicated values represent averages calculated frommeasurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the PlantIdentification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition byJames G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwisedefined.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Botanical.—Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.        -   Common name.—Blackberry.        -   Variety name.—‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘BW389 2 Bulk’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘DrisBlackThirteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.            27,681).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation.—Root cuttings and tissue culture.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Height.—161 cm.        -   Width.—80 cm.        -   Height/width ratio.—2.01.        -   Vigor.—Medium.        -   Self-fruitfulness.—Self-fruitful.-   Canes:    -   -   Internodal distance.—9 cm.        -   New cane.—Strength: Medium. Glaucosity (waxy bloom): Weak.        -   Dormant cane.—Anthocyanin coloration: Weak. Predominant            distribution of branches: Only on upper half. Cross-section:            Rounded to angular. Spine: Presence of spines: Absent.        -   Fruiting lateral.—Fruiting lateral length (4^(th) lateral            from tip): 17 cm. Number of fruits per fruiting lateral: 10.        -   Young shoots.—Length: 164 cm. Diameter: 1.5 cm. Anthocyanin            coloration (during rapid growth): Strong. Color: RHS 148A            (Moderate yellow green). Number of glandular hairs: Many.            Time of young shoot emergence: Late March.-   Leaves:    -   -   Time of leaf bud burst.—Late January.        -   Leaf.—Predominant number of leaflets: 5. Type: Palmate.            Relative position of lateral leaflets: Overlapping.            Arrangement: Whorled. Venation: Cross-venulate. Vein color:            RHS 152D (Dark greenish yellow). Color of upper side: RHS            152D (Dark greenish yellow). Color of lower side: RHS 138B            (Moderate yellow green). Profile in cross-section: Concave            (margins rolled inwards). Glossiness of upper side: Medium.        -   Leaflet.—Type of incision of margin: Bi-serrate. Depth of            margin incisions; Medium.        -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 10 cm. Width: 8.4 cm. Length/width            ratio: 1.2. Shape: Oval. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Doubly            serrate. Lobing: Absent. Shape in cross-section: V-shaped.            Undulation of margin: Weak. Blistering between veins:            Medium.        -   Lateral leaflet (single leaflet in basal pair).—Length:            9.6 cm. Width: 6 cm. Length/width ratio: 1.6. Shape: Oval.            Base: Obtuse. Margin: Doubly serrate.        -   Rachis (length between terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral            leaflets).—3 cm.        -   Petiole.—Length: 7 cm. Diameter: 1-2 mm. Color of upper            surface: RHS 138B (Moderate yellow green). Color of lower            surface: RHS 144A (Strong yellow green).        -   Stipule.—Length: 1.7 cm. Width: 2.7 mm. Color: RHS 147A            (Moderate olive green). Orientation: Erect.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower bud.—Length: 9 mm. Width: 8 mm. Color: RHS 191A            (Greyish yellow green).        -   Flower.—Diameter: 59 mm. Number of flowers observed at            3^(rd) node from tip of lateral.—5.5. Fragrance: Faint.        -   Petal.—Length: 26 mm. Width: 9 mm. Length/width ratio: 2.9.            Number of petals per flower: 5.5. Color: RHS NN155C (White).            Shape: Oval. Apex: Rounded. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Erose.        -   Sepal.—Length: 9 mm. Width: 5.8 mm. Color: RHS 145A (Strong            yellow green).        -   Flower pedicel.—Length: 27 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Color: RHS            138C (Moderate yellow green).        -   Inflorescence peduncle.—Length: 26 mm. Diameter: 2 mm.            Color: RHS 138C (Moderate yellow green).        -   Reproductive organs.—Style: Length: 2.5 mm. Color: RHS 143B            (Strong yellow green). Ovary: Color: RHS 140A (Vivid            yellowish green). Stamen: Length: 8 mm. Color: RHS 138D            (Light yellow green). Pollen: Amount: Medium. Color: RHS 4B            (Light greenish yellow).        -   Flowering interval on previous year's cane            (floricane).—Early April to mid-May.        -   Flowering interval on current year's cane (primocane).—Late            April to May.-   Fruit:    -   -   Length of mature fruit.—25 mm.        -   Diameter of mature fruit.—18 mm.        -   Ratio of length to width.—1.39.        -   Floricane fruit weight.—11 g/fruit.        -   Primocane fruit weight.—10 g/fruit.        -   Sweetness/soluble solids (in ° Brix): 13.        -   Titratable acidity (% as citric acid).—1.53%.        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Firmness.—Medium firm.        -   Fruit shape in longitudinal section.—Oblong.        -   Fruit color.—RHS 203A (Black).        -   Drupe.—Length of single drupe: 5 mm. Diameter of single            drupe: 5 mm. Average number of drupes per fruit: ˜100.        -   Seed.—Diameter: 2 mm. Weight: 0.00217 g/seed. Color: RHS            167D (Moderate orange yellow).        -   Fruiting on current year's cane.—Present.        -   Harvest interval on previous year's cane            (floricane).—Mid-June to July.        -   Harvest interval on current year's cane            (primocane).—Mid-August to September.        -   Yield.—14,000 pounds (lbs) to 22,700 pounds (lbs) of fruit            per acre per season from 24-36 month-old plants when grown            in Watsonville, Calif.-   Resistance to pests and diseases:    -   -   Redberry mite (Acalitus essigi).—Moderately susceptible.        -   Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum).—Moderately susceptible.        -   Verticillium wilt (Verticillium spp.).—Susceptible.

COMPARISON TO PARENTAL AND REFERENCE BLACKBERRY VARIETIES

‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ differs from the proprietary female parent ‘BW389 2Bulk’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ has larger fruit sizeand higher yield potential compared to ‘BW389 2 Bulk’.

‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ differs from the male parent and reference variety‘DrisBlackThirteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,681) in that‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ has an upright growth habit, rounded to angulardormant cane cross-section, many glandular hairs on young shoots, andoblong shape of fruit in longitudinal section, whereas‘DrisBlackThirteen’ has a semi-upright growth habit, angular to grooveddormant cane cross-section, absent or few glandular hairs on youngshoots, and medium ovate shape of fruit in longitudinal section.

‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ differs from the reference variety‘DrisBlackTwentyFour’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 33,088) in that‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ has spineless canes, the terminal leafletcross-section is V-shaped, medium blistering between terminal leafletveins, and oblong shape of fruit in longitudinal section, whereas‘DrisBlackTwentyFour’ has spines on dormant canes, the terminal leafletcross-section is U-shaped, very weak blistering between terminal leafletveins, and elliptic shape of fruit in longitudinal section.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plantdesignated ‘DrisBlackThirtyOne’ as shown and described herein.